The Storm Water Advisory Board of the County of Porter, Indiana, will hold a meeting on the 8th day of June 2020 at 9:00 a.m., in the Porter County Administrative Center, 155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 205, Valparaiso, IN 46383. Pending Agenda

The Storm Water Management Board of the County of Porter, Indiana, will hold a meeting on the 9th day of June 2020 at 9:00 a.m., in the Porter County Administrative Center, 155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 205, Valparaiso, IN 46383. Pending Agenda

INVITATIONS TO BID/REQUESTS FOR QUOTES

The Department of Development & Storm Water Management will receive bids for this project until 10:00 a.m. local time on Thursday, May 28, 2020, at the Office of the Auditor, Porter Co. Administration Center,155 Indiana Ave., Ste. 204, Valparaiso, IN 46383. Bids will be opened and read aloud on Thursday, May 28, 2020, at a public opening of bids, to be held at 10:00 a.m. local time at the Porter Co. Administration Center, 155 Indiana Ave., Ste. 205, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383.

The Department of Development & Storm Water Management will receive bids for this project until 10:00 a.m. local time on Thursday, May 28, 2020, at the Office of the Auditor, Porter Co. Administration Center,155 Indiana Ave., Ste. 204, Valparaiso, IN 46383. Bids will be opened and read aloud on Thursday, May 28, 2020, at a public opening of bids, to be held at 10:00 a.m. local time at the Porter Co. Administration Center, 155 Indiana Ave., Ste. 205, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383.

Our Mission

Welcome to the Porter County Department of Development and Storm Water Management. Our Mission is to coordinate the storm water activities to improve water quality, reduce flood damages and restore and enhance the natural drainage system. End Goal: CLEAN WATER FOR EVERYONE!

What is Storm Water and why is Storm Water Management so important?

Storm water is rain, snow, sleet or ice melt flowing over land with all debris and pollutants picked up along the way. This water flows into a system of pipes, ponds and ditches that empty directly into our creeks, lakes and rivers. These systems require maintenance to prevent pollution and improve water quality. Storm water is not treated at a treatment plant so it is up to individuals to make sure that water depositing into the environment is clean.

How is the fee used?

The fee pays for all actions necessary to meet state and federal requirements: maintain and improve existing storm water infrastructure and implement a comprehensive storm water management program as required by EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and IDEM (Indiana Department of Environmental Management). These are six measures required by the EPA and IDEM:

1. Implement a public education program to distribute materials and conduct activities to inform the public about the impact of storm water discharges on our water bodies and the steps that can be taken to prevent storm water pollution.

2. Provide the public with an opportunity to plan an active roll in development and implementation of the program.

3. Detect and eliminate discharges to storm water conveyances that are not composed entirely of storm water.

4. Administer a permitting program that requires a storm water quality protection plan for construction activities that result in a land disturbance of equal to or greater than one acre.

5. Maintain records and inspections of storm water protection practices at completed construction sites where land disturbances were equal to or greater than one acre.

6. Reduce pollutants in storm water runoff from county facilities by utilizing storm water protection practices in the operation and maintenance of these facilities.

Environmental Concerns Relating to Storm Water

Polluted water enters lakes and rivers in two ways: point and non-point sources. Point sources are easy to identify because it comes from a pipe and can be traced back to someone accountable for the pollution they are depositing. The Clean Water Act (CWA) has special permits and has been successful in reducing pollution from point sources. Non-point sources are, by definition, harder to control because it comes from many different sources and there is no one person accountable for the collective pollution. Classic examples include water coming from parking lots and water flowing over fertilized lawns. Non-point sources, including storm water, are very significant contributors to water pollution and very difficult to regulate. It is hopeful that individual actions have the greatest impact. Here are some of the environmental concerns connected to storm water:

Pollutants in the water

Storm water flowing over parking lots and roads picks up antifreeze, gasoline, and oil that dripped from cars, as well as heavy metals such as copper, chromium, lead and zinc.

High Salt Concentrations

Road salt used to melt snow washes directly into our water systems changing the conditions foranimal and plant life to survive, as well as making ourdrinking water salty.

Algae Blooms

With increased amounts of nutrients from lawn fertilizer, pet droppings and phosphorus based soaps dumped into the water, algae thrives and increases in population creating a "bloom" that eventually decays, creating a nasty odor and decreasing the amount of available oxygen in the water. As the algae decays, the bacteria feeding on them use up oxygen. This can lead to the death of fish.

Thermal Pollution

Water running off pavement and roads can be very hot. A change in the temperature of the water can change the suitability for certain animals and plants to survive and reduce oxygen availability.

Sedimentation

Water flowing over construction sites and sand and grit from roadways can end up making the water in the creeks, rivers, and lakes cloudy. The sediment eventually deposits at the bottom but this makes the body of water shallower and can lead to increased temperatures and lower oxygen levels. It can also lead to the clogging of fish gills.

Habitat Destruction

When large amounts of water surge into creeks and other water ways it can be very destructive. Also invasive species can be transported by storm water.

Social Concerns Relating to storm water

Human activity on the land influences the quality of our water, for better or worse, water quality is connected to our health, safety and ability to use water for recreational purposes. Storm water that is not properly managed can cause expensive damage to private and public property and degrade our water supply.

Flooding

Houses may flood, but also an issue that is more prevalent are roads flooding. This is a public health and safety risk.

Ice

If stagnant water on the roads does not drain properly during the winter there is a greater risk for ice to form on the roads.

Loss of Recreational Activities

When the water quality is too poor to support a healthy fish population or is no longer safe for contact with humans, recreational activities are negatively affected.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water that is not well managed or in correct ecosystem.

Ground Depletion

As less water infiltrates into the ground to recharge the groundwater, there is a need to dig deeper for our water supply. This process is expensive, not sustainable and increases the risk of groundwater contamination.

Illness

Disease causing organisms, such as E. Coli can enter waterways through storm water. This is a major public health issue that can be prevented. Common sources are high levels of bacteria in storm water from pet waste, geese droppings and improperly treated sewage._________________________________________________________

There is also a small drop box next to the main entrance of the Porter County Administration Center at 155 Indiana Ave. in Valparaiso. This drop box will probably NOT be large enough to handle large bound reports or large plan sets. Please contact Mike Novotney at mnovotney@porterco.org for options to transmit large bound reports or large plan sets.